Interracial Dating and Marriage Around the World

While watching your favorite television show like “Wheel of Fortune” or the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” in the United States, you might notice something interesting about the commercials.  In many cases where families, couples or friends are depicted, the actors will be of different races and ethnicities:  a Caucasian husband driving a new Chevy with an African American wife in the passenger seat and two biracial children in the back seat; a group of young people of different racial backgrounds sitting around the table and laughing heartily at Pizza Hut.  It all seems so idyllic and utopian.  But it hasn’t always been this way.

In the United States, anti-miscegenation laws once made interracial marriage illegal in many states. These laws were abolished nationwide in 1967 by the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving v. Virginia. Since then, interracial marriage has increased significantly with about 11% of all married couples in the U.S. being interracial.  The most common pairings are Hispanic/White and Asian/White. Even though attitudes are evolving, this does not mean that couples do not still face discrimination and prejudice, especially in certain parts of the United States.

In Europe, interracial relationships are also common, particularly in countries like the United Kingdom and France, where immigration and colonial histories have contributed to diverse societies. Around 8% of relationships in the UK are interracial, with Black-Caribbean men and White British women being a frequent pairing. Although Europe has not had anti-miscegenation laws like the U.S., societal prejudice can still exist, especially in Eastern European countries. However, in general, Europe is seen as more liberal when it comes to interracial relationships.

In Asia, cultural traditions and a focus on preserving heritage can make interracial relationships more complicated to undertake. Despite this, globalization and increased interaction with Western cultures have led to more interracial marriages in countries like South Korea, Japan, and China. For example, about 5% of marriages in Japan are interracial, often involving Japanese women and Western men.  We have recent examples of famous athletes like tennis champion Naomi Osaka and NBA star Rui Hachimura whose mothers are Japanese and fathers are Haitian and Beninese, respectively.  Conversely, in South Korea, these types of marriages have declined slightly in recent years due to stricter immigration laws. But we also know that South Koreans are migrating to other countries in higher numbers, possibly resulting in interracial relationships with citizens of their adoptive countries.  Still, interracial couples in East Asian countries may face societal pressure or challenges raising biracial children in largely homogeneous societies.

NBA forward Rui Hachimura

Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have made it easier for people from different backgrounds to meet, while films and TV shows featuring interracial couples, such as Crazy Rich Asians and Bridgerton, have increased visibility.  And Chevrolet and Pizza Hut are doing their part to help normalize the idea of people of different races fraternizing, dating, marrying and having a family.

Scene from "Crazy Rich Asians"

The question is, why are some people still resistant to the idea of dating someone of a different race? How have the media affected the stereotypes we might have about people of other races or ethnicities?  There are many young people who are of many different racial and ethnic backgrounds.  What challenges do the offspring of interracial marriages face?

When I travel to Asia in 2025, I’m going to do my own research and see if I can get a nice Japanese or Chinese citizen to marry me! 

Written by JeremyLeon

December 14, 2024

Word Count: 576

Reading Level:  High Intermediate

Keywords:  interracial, dating, marriage, culture